All because of that damn deer.
Bjorn got to his feet with a slight sense of clarity coming to his throbbing head. Sharp pain ran along his arm, painful reminders of last night’s escapade.
Instinctively, Bjorn reached for the service bell and the sudden shock of pain made him flinch. He had woken up with it wrapped up in a bandage. There was likely a bone injury that was causing the pain, but when had he seen a doctor?
With a mix of relief and frustration, Bjorn got up from the bed and let out a sigh. He went and pulled back the black out curtains. The afternoon sun blinded him and he squinted out the window. The cool breeze coming off the river was soothing and unconsciously he put a cigar between his lips.
Erna.
As the memory of last night slowly came back to him, he could feel that he had been muttering Erna’s name all night. Then there was something that hit his head pretty hard. He felt for the bump and immediately regretted it as the pain lanced through his mind.
Erna will be back.
He had said that more than once, to completely irrelevant questions. He remembered confused faces, concerned faces and Erna’s face.
He could recall Leonid shouting at him about something, his voice echoed around the sensitive chambers of his memory. There was a distinct feeling that he just stared at his brother, blank faced and devoid of sense. He couldn’t even drum up the energy to curse and just lit the cigar instead.
There was a distinct, polite knock at the door. It was probably Mrs Fitz.
“Ah, you’re finally awake, Your Highness,” said Mrs Fitz, as expected. She came in with the morning paper and afternoon tea. “You know, nothing has changed since your childhood, always the same, you do something embarrassing and you hide yourself away from everyone.”
“Is that so?” Bjorn tried to laugh and let out a cloud of smoke.
“Yes, but now that you’re an adult, I don’t have to go searching for you under the bed, or in the closet.”
Mrs Fitz fixed Bjorn with a firm look, as if conveying her intention to smack his behind. She looked just as she did back then too, the stern nanny from his childhood.
Bjorn let out a sigh and took a seat in front of the table, where the morning tea had been set down. He drank it down and skimmed through the paper.
*.·:·.✧.·:·.*
“Lisa’s letter has arrived,” Mrs Fitz said. “Would you like to read it?”
Bjorn looked at Mrs Fitz with a squint, as if she was an envoy bringing bad news from a neighbour declaring war. Bjorn made as if to take the letter, but reached for his tea instead.
“I’ll read it then,” she said and opened the letter. “Lisa says she is doing well and so is Her Highness. The Baroness of Baden is in good health.” Mrs Fritz mumbled and murmured as she sped read the rest of the letter. “That’s about it.”
Bjorn frowned deeper wrinkles. He didn’t know what he was expecting, but certainly not an update on the brown tabby cow that had just given birth, or about the stockings Lisa was knitting.
“Do you have anything to say, Your Highness?” Mrs Fitz asked, finding it hard to decipher Bjorn’s expression.
Bjorn took a sip of his tea, pondering the usefulness of Lisa. His lips felt parched and each sip only left him more thirsty. The alcohol’s affects should have worn off by now, but he still felt the queasiness of being drunk.
“There is one other thing I need to tell you, Your Highness, His Highness the Crown Prince is planning on visiting Baden Street this week. He is taken the Duchess Heine with him.”
“Leonid and Louise… they’re going to Baden?” Bjorn said, putting down the teacup.
“Not unless there’s another Prince that wishes to reconcile with the Grand Duchess.”
“For what?”
“Look in the mirror and maybe you’ll finally see for what.” Despite her sarcastic attitude, Mrs Fitz remained stiff and professional.
“Everyone is doing such pointless stuff,” Bjorn said sullenly and stood from the table.
He relit the cigar in his mouth as Mrs Fitz turned and left. Bjorn stood at the window, staring out to the river in silence. With a heavy sigh, Bjorn turned and faced the full length mirror and laughed when he realised Mrs Fitz hadn’t been entirely wrong. He would cut his hair, before Leonid and Louise returned from Baden.
*.·:·.✧.·:·.*
“The more I think about it, the more horrible it seems, to the point it out right disgusts me.” Louise said with fierce anger.
The sound of clopping hooves and the carriage bumping along the road, mixed with Louise’s frustrations kept distracting Leonid from the book he was trying to read.
With a sigh he looked at Louise with a sigh of resignation. He was amazed by his sister’s unwavering passion in insulting Bjorn through the entire journey.
“How could you keep that secret from me? You let me treat that hateful girl like a best friend, my God, how stupid of me.”
“Louise, it was between Lechen and Lars…”
“Oh really, that confidential huh? Please, tell me again, Your Highness.”
Louise spat out each word with harsh contempt and her expression was as cold as the winters at the poles. When the book was published and the truth revealed, Louise had cried for hours. She tried to deny it, make excuses for the Princess.
Her father, mother and her twin brothers.
The family’s deception in keeping the truth from her was deeply worrisome. Louise despised it. She tried to understand the reason behind their actions, but to let her carry on being Gladys’ friend? That really was not on. It was harder still for her to forgive Bjorn, who had looked out for her since she was born.
If Bjorn had just confided in her, Louise would have understood and shared the burden. She certainly would have refrained from constantly harassing him to reconcile things with Gladys.
Despite all the things she wanted to say to Bjorn, when they were face to face, she really couldn’t think of the right words to say. Then there was the news of the Grand Duchess’ miscarriage.
“How much further?” Louise asked, trying to break her own train of thought.
She looked out the carriage window, like she was going to see some sign, but it was all just the same rural landscape as before, they could be anywhere. It was hard to imagine there being a mansion of aristocracy some where out here.
“I believe we are almost there,” Leonid said calmly. “Thank you for coming with me.”
“I only came for the Grand Duchess, it has nothing to do with you, or that pig headed brother of ours.” Louise owed Erna an apology.
Louise had been wanting to apologise for a long time now, but always struggled to find the right words when ever she sat at her writing desk. Her heart was heavy and the sense of guilt was over whelming, as if it were her fault the Grand Duchess had miscarried.
Perhaps this fiasco could have been avoided, if only Louise had apologised sooner. Ever since Erna’s departure, Louise had been consumed by remorse. This was the only reason she had accepted Leonid’s invitation. Her decision was helped along when Leonid told her that Bjorn would not be accompanying them.
“Where the hell is this village?” Louise was starting to feel restless.
When the derelict looking house finally came into view, Louise was shocked.
“Oh my god,” was all she could say.
“Your Highness, Your Highness,” Lisa was shouting.
Her voice carried through the mansion as she ran from the other side of the hallway, looking or Erna. Erna was arranging some flowers and as she heard Lisa calling, stood from where she was adjusting a rose. Lisa came in after a brief knock, fresh blush on her cheeks.
“The Royal Family has come, Your Highness, they’re here!”